Lee Jong-suk discusses new role and 13-year reunion with Ha Ji-young

Actor Lee Jong-suk recently appeared on the YouTube channel 'Ha Ji-young' to discuss his role as Heinrey in the Disney+ original series 'The Remarried Empress', a project whose preview surpassed 13 million views. During the interview, he reflected on his reunion with Ha Ji-young and his current fitness routine involving boxing and weight training.

Actor Lee Jong-suk has returned with a new character in the romance fantasy genre. Taking on the role of Heinrey in the Disney+ original series 'The Remarried Empress', Lee recently shared his thoughts on the work and his current life through the YouTube channel 'Ha Ji-young'.

"Feeling the weight of describing a peerless beauty"... The struggles behind Heinrey's flashy visuals

Lee Jong-suk revealed that the flashy visuals shown in this work were a choice stemming from the character's setting. He noted that in 'The Remarried Empress', Heinrey is described by surrounding characters as a "peerless beauty" whom people "faint just by making eye contact." In the video, he said that these descriptions from surrounding characters were actually too violent, making them very burdensome; it was such a mental weight that he felt a sense of "oh no" while filming. To visually implement these character traits, he put effort into visual work, such as using earrings and accessories which he does not usually wear. He added that while he initially wore only one earring during filming, as he became more accustomed, he felt some days looked "plain" and greedily began wearing three earrings at once, noting that staff members should stop him if he goes too far.

In particular, he mentioned the unconventional side shown by Heinrey in the drama. He explained in the video that Heinrey is a person truly crazy in love, a character who performs the ultimate "flex" among male protagonists by eventually offering up an entire country because of that madness. He emphasized Heinrey's unique charm, as the character offers his entire fortune and country, saying, "Please become my Empress." The work proved its popularity as the preview surpassed 13 million views immediately upon release.

"Long connection and loyalty to the director"... A special reunion after 13 years

A deep trust in the director was at the heart of Lee Jong-suk's decision to choose this work. He stated that he has a very long-standing relationship with the director and was already enjoying reading the original work; upon hearing the news that the director was preparing the project, he decided to take on the challenge because he liked the character so much. In particular, he mentioned his connection with the director who was with him during his 20s for works such as 'I Can See Your Voice' and 'Pinocchio'. He expressed his trust in the director by sharing an anecdote where the director, knowing Lee was a fan of the original work, gave him the role and said, "If you bring the character to life well, I will enjoy watching it as a drama geek."

Lee Jong-suk also expressed special emotions regarding his reunion with Ha Ji-young, with whom he has maintained a connection since his rookie days. Noting that "13 years have passed," he said he was very happy to conduct this guerrilla interview after such a long time. The two showed an unchanging bond, checking in on each other based on their past connection. He mentioned an anecdote where Ha Ji-young found pretty-looking peaches while web surfing and sent them to him, noting that they share feelings of support even without asking direct questions about each other's well-being.

"Consuming 1,000 calories a day"... Current status built through boxing and weight training

Detailed stories continued regarding his life outside of his work. Appearing with a noticeably improved physique recently, Lee Jong-suk revealed that he is continuing self-management through steady exercise. He said he has tried tennis, golf, and has been consistently doing boxing, stating he is actively looking for hobbies through exercise.

Lee Jong-suk revealed his specific exercise routine. In the video, he explained a routine of boxing in the morning and weight training in the afternoon after eating a meal. He stated, "Weight training burns about 240 calories, and boxing burns about 700 calories," adding that he maintains a daily life where he consumes exactly 1,000 calories. Regarding his recent life, he expressed, "I am very happy," conveying both the joy of learning new things and his gratitude as an actor.

Source: original video (YouTube)